Hissing with MZ-N505 and D66

[PodMan]

Whenever I use my D66 Eggos with the NetMD MZ-N505, I get this hissing sound during the silence at the start of every song. I don't have an optical cable so I rip all my cds using the Sony Simple Burner to LP2 format. I also tried some songs I converted using openmg to LP2 and the hiss is present there as well. The hiss is not noticeable once music starts to play but its annoying because I am reminded of it at the start of every song.

I also tried the D66 with my iPod and hiss is not present anywhere. I just tried plugging in EX70s and they exhibit hiss as well.

Is it just a problem with the Simple Burner and OpenMG software in encoding songs? I do not convert from mp3s, the songs are all from cd format using Sony's software. I encode the same cds using EAC+LAME for my ipod and no hiss at all.

 

[ColaMan]

I have the mz505 with the mx500. Have you tried encoding one of your tracks to mp3 and then transferring it over? I know it's counter intuitive, but I've never noticed any hiss between songs and I mainly convert from mp3s. How loud is the volume setting?

I'll go home tonight and try what you've done.

 

[Watchdog]

Quote:

Originally posted by ColaMan I have the mz505 with the mx500. Have you tried encoding one of your tracks to mp3 and then transferring it over? I know it's counter intuitive, but I've never noticed any hiss between songs and I mainly convert from mp3s. How loud is the volume setting? I'll go home tonight and try what you've done.

Well even if that solves the problem, are you sure you want to do that? That process might solve the problem because it's missing information due to cascade artifacts.

I use Simple Burner and LP2. I have a MZ-N707 and I use Koss Porta Pros, I haven't noticed a persistent hissing problem. I'm sure it's there on the odd track, but as a general rule I don't have the hissing issue.

 

[PodMan]

I just tried converting some mp3s, same problem. I'm beginning to think its the player itself since the volume of the hiss remains the same despite changing the volume. I usually listen with a volume level of 8-10. I tried setting the volume to 15 and then to 2; the volume of the hiss remains the same.


just tried lowering the volume all the way to 0 and then playing. All I hear is hiss with no music playing. When I press pause, the hiss stops, hit play, there it is again.

 

[ColaMan]

I'm assuming you've tried it with different cds and mp3s. I remember I used image burner and didn't notice any hiss between tracks. Either that or you have better hearing than I do.

 

[PodMan]

yep, i tried with all the minidiscs i've encoded in LP2 and LP4.

hmm, I tried plugging in my sennheiser 580 into it. the hiss seems to be gone. maybe its some kind of impedance problem? with such low sensitivity on the 580s, I have to set the volume at 16 to get roughly the same volume as 8 that I got with the D66.

I borrowed back my KSC-50s and they seem to exhibit a slight hiss but no where near as bad as with the Eggos or the EX70s. I am not quite sure if this is due to the open nature of the KSC-50s vs the isolation of the Eggos and EX70s. Morning is here and my surroundings are not as quiet anymore. I guess I'll revert back to the KSC-50s, which I've always used with the N505 before I got the Eggos.

 

[jpelg]

PodMan,

1. Do you have access to a source with a digital-out? If so, try making a digital copy at SP, and see if the problem persists.

2. Are you making analog recordings? You could be setting the analog recording levels too high.

3. Or if you are using the USB NetMD connection from your PC, could that be from where the hiss is coming? (I've never used NetMD so I don't know exactly how or how well it works).

Only way to know for sure is to do #1.

-j

 

[PodMan]

I have some sources capable of digital-out but I don't have the optical cable to connect them to the NetMD. I can only get songs onto minidisc using USB.

hmm, well the hiss is not really noticeable when I'm working on something else or when I'm outside. I guess its fine as long as I don't do any close listening.

 

[NetRunner]

I too hear hiss from my N707 with E888 earbuds.. But if I try DT531 I don't hear it. The hiss is there regardless of volume. (And it's easy to hear when volume is 0). Can't be heard when the music is playing.. most of the time.
Currently I don't have anything in SP so can't test that right now. (Though it might be just the unit as volume doesn't affect the hiss.)

Could portable headamp fix this?

 

[PodMan]

I just asked this question over at the minidisct forums. A member with an N505 also confirmed that he has the same problem as well. Since N707 has basically the same design as the N505, it's not surprising that it also suffers from the hiss. The hiss must be coming from the player itself as I can set the volume to 0 and hear nothing but hiss.

well this is quite a let-down, sony's portables are getting worse in quality every year, but this is actually the first player I've owned that actually exhibits hissing.

 

[Steve999]

Wow, that sounds rough. I despise hiss. I just tried my MZ-N505 with an LP2 recording on 0 volume and got no hiss, no nothing, and then clearly audible music with no hiss at level 1, using my Sony MDR- V6s, which are my hiss-detecting headphones. I have returned portables with hiss, such as panasonic PDCPs, I don't like hiss. Maybe I'll try again in the still of the night, when everything is dead quiet...

I wonder if it is some kind of headphone -- source synergy? I believe you 100 percent, about getting the hiss, it's really surprising.

Maybe it's a product quality variation?

I bought my MZ-N505 about a year ago. I'll try my MZ-N707, too, but I doubt I'll get any hiss -- I'm usually a stickler about such things and do not tolerate it at all. Just went from dead silence between songs to music at volume 10.

I suggest you can use the line in on your MZ-N505 to make an analog recording from a good source... or try a digital recording... try to record in SP, from something other than your computer.

If there's still hiss, I'd return it and try another MZ-N505. And if you get hiss on the second one, I'd return that one too. You should get first class sound out of an MZ-N505 or MZ-N707, IMHO. Hiss would bug the fricking frack out of me. Sony does get sloppy with quality control at times.

Good luck!

 

[Steve999]

I don't believe a portable headphone amp would help at all. At best, if it were a great amp, it wouldn't make the problem worse.

I just ran the MZ-N505 through my Corda HA-1 at full volume with the MZ-N505 at 0 volume and I did get a small amount of hiss, but I mean it was small, and if I were to run music through it at that volume it would fry my ears, I would never have it turned up that high. I ran my little not half-bad JVC minisystem's line out through the HA-1 and got a LOT more hiss. Turning the HA-1 down to non-ear-frying volumes with the JVC again I got no hiss.

(This is all with MDR-V6s)

As a frame of reference, the Panasonic PDCPs I have tried (but returned) gave me clearly audible hiss, and I have returned receivers with audible hiss without a second thought.

So, my best guess is that what we have here are 1) some unusually hissy (that is, defective) MZ-N505s and 707s; 2) unusually sensitive headphones; AND 3) some pretty good ears.

Since the problem occurs and is easily audible at 0 volume and without further amplification, my advice is to return the portable and try another one of the same model.

Quote:

Originally posted by NetRunner I too hear hiss from my N707 with E888 earbuds.. But if I try DT531 I don't hear it. The hiss is there regardless of volume. (And it's easy to hear when volume is 0). Can't be heard when the music is playing.. most of the time. Currently I don't have anything in SP so can't test that right now. (Though it might be just the unit as volume doesn't affect the hiss.) Could portable headamp fix this?

 

[Duncan]

N707 + E888 ~ No Hiss
N707 + D66 ~ No Hiss...

Sorry, no problem this end ~ sounds like maybe a fried op-amp??

 

[PodMan]

hmm very interesting. Sony must have some major quality control issues. Is hissing a symptom of a fried op-amp? The sound output quality is fine, except for the hissing.

 

[Watchdog]

I'm using a N707 and PortaPros, no hiss.